Unitarian Universalists honor and celebrate a wide range of holidays and occasions over the course of a year. Unlike other faith traditions that use a single lectionary (a collection of scripture readings appointed for a given day or occasion), the topics and themes for Unitarian Universalist worship services are usually chosen independently by worship leaders in congregations. These include unique UU traditions, like the Flower Ceremony, as well as holidays from other faith traditions, such as Christmas or Beltane.
View and download the 2023-24 UUA Worship Calendar (PDF), which includes faith-based and secular holidays that UU congregations often celebrate. The calendar also includes monthly worship themes used in popular theme-based ministry programs. To download or print, follow the link and use the File menu, then select the Landscape layout option.
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The soul of America has yet to be born.Reading | By Peggy Clarke | November 16, 2020 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 5th Principle (Conscience & Democracy), America, Democracy, Generations, History, Humanism, Indigenous Peoples Day, July 4th, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Secular -
Let us honor our ancestors by doing the work of living boldly, loving mightily, and creating heaven on earth.Benediction | By Leia Durland-Jones | November 16, 2020 | From WorshipWebTagged as: All Souls Day, Family, Generations, History, Memorial Services -
It's okay to be feel weary of resiliency and wholeness and learning and growth.Opening | By Sharon Wylie | November 16, 2020 | From WorshipWebTagged as: #COVID19, Change, Community, Growth, Resilience, Self-Care, Wholeness, Worship -
We are all in this together, and when bad things happen that are preventable by human means, we are all implicated.Reflection | By Erica Shadowsong | November 11, 2020 | From Braver/WiserTagged as: Evil, Goddess, International, Worship -
May today bring forth transformation in ourselves—from grief, healing; from memory, wholeness; and from celebration, love.Chalice Lighting | By Mira Mickiewicz | November 10, 2020 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Memorial Services, Remembrance Day, Worship -
To be a Unitarian Universalist means we’ll never be done with the work.Chalice Lighting | By Erika Hewitt | November 9, 2020 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Anti-Oppression, Community, Covenant, Identity, Living Our Faith, Purpose, Seven Principles, Transformation, Unitarian Universalism, Universalism -
As Unitarian Universalists, our journey is to transform the big and the small, to transform ourselves, and to transform the world.Responsive Reading | By Elizabeth Nguyen | November 9, 2020 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Anti-Oppression, Calling, Freedom, Justice, Living Our Faith, Purpose, Seven Principles, Transformation, Unitarian Universalism, Universalism, Wholeness, Worship -
Uncertain as the world feels right now, love will bear whatever lies ahead.Reflection | By Julie Fanselow | November 4, 2020 | From Braver/WiserTagged as: America, Body, Brokenness, Democracy, Direct Experience, Healing, Health, Humanism, Marriage, Secular, Worship -
Hope continues, uncertain and true, like candlelight, ready to spark again.Chalice Extinguishing | By Kevin Jagoe | November 2, 2020 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Autumnal Equinox, Despair, Disaster or Crisis, Fall, Hope, Winter, Winter Solstice / Yule, Worship -
Learning to love all of me—including the parts I used to be scared of—made the fear go away.Reflection | By Ndidi Achebe | October 28, 2020 | From Braver/WiserTagged as: #BlackLivesMatter, Family, Mental Health, Race/Ethnicity, Self-Care, Self-Respect, Worship -
The history of conquest is a scourge on the human condition. A lingering one.Quote | By Imani Perry | October 27, 2020 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), Anti-Oppression, Evil, Freedom, Greed, History, Humanism, Oppression, Poverty, Secular -
At the core of American racism is the belief that the things we the Blacks desire, the fact that we the Blacks desire, are perversions.Reading | By Imani Perry | October 27, 2020 | From WorshipWebTagged as: #BlackLivesMatter, America, Anti-Oppression, Challenge, Character, Imagination, Race/Ethnicity -
I do not believe the acts of oppressors are my people’s shame.Quote | By Imani Perry | October 27, 2020 | From WorshipWebTagged as: #BlackLivesMatter, 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), Culture, Direct Experience, Generations, History, Humanism, Identity, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Race/Ethnicity, Resilience, Secular, Self-Respect -
I was born nine years after four little girls were killed in Birmingham, Alabama, and two other boys later the same day.Reading | By Imani Perry | October 27, 2020 | From WorshipWebTagged as: #BlackLivesMatter, America, Anti-Oppression, Direct Experience, History, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Race/Ethnicity, Worship -
We teach girls to be likeable, to be nice, to be false. And we do not teach boys the same. This is dangerous.Reading | By Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie | October 22, 2020 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), Beginnings, Character, Children, Coming-of-Age, Direct Experience, Education, Freedom, Gender, Generations, Humanism, Secular, Self-Respect, Worship -
Sometimes, there is no reprieve from the pain of this world. Sometimes, it is too big and too obvious to ignore.Reflection | By Helen “HP” Rivers | October 21, 2020 | From Braver/WiserTagged as: Caring, Christianity, Connections, Family, Generations, God, Goddess, Paganism, Presence, Sorrow, Spiritual Practice, Worship -
The drug that says that whiteness is what matters most about white people is what makes so many of them think that is what must be protected at all costs.Quote | By Imani Perry | October 19, 2020 | From WorshipWebTagged as: #BlackLivesMatter, Anti-Oppression, Direct Experience, Race/Ethnicity -
Black men are not a species. They, you, belong to humanity.Reading | By Imani Perry | October 19, 2020 | From WorshipWebTagged as: #BlackLivesMatter, America, Character, History, Race/Ethnicity, Worship -
It is now, when we are called to act on our values, not to hide, not to fear, but to be bold and loud.Opening | By Tania Y Márquez | October 19, 2020 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 6th Principle (World Community), Activism, Character, Courage, Direct Experience, Humanism, Justice, Living Our Faith, Responsibility, Secular, Worship -
Arm's length: What was once a defensive or suspicious expression has now become a gesture of care, an indication of love and protection.Reflection | By Karen G. Johnston | October 14, 2020 | From Braver/WiserTagged as: 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Animals, Caring, Climate Justice, Direct Experience, Environment, Humanism, Interdependence, Nature, Worship